Family policies and children's school achievement in single- versus two-parent families

Pong, Suet-Ling; Dronkers, Jaap; Hampden-Thompson, Gillian

Abstract

We investigate the gap in math and science achievement of third- and fourth-graders who live with a single parent versus those who live with two parents in 11 countries. The United States and New Zealand rank last among the countries we compare in terms of the equality of achievement between children from single-parent families and those from two-parent homes. Following a multilevel analysis, we find single parenthood to be less detrimental when family policies equalize resources between single- and two-parent families. In addition, the single- and two-parent achievement gap is greater in countries where single-parent families are more prevalent. We conclude that national family policies can offset the negative academic outcomes of single parenthood.

Citation

Pong, S., Dronkers, J., & Hampden-Thompson, G. (2003). Family policies and children's school achievement in single- versus two-parent families. Journal of Marriage and Family, 65, 681. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2003.00681.x

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: 2003
• Deposit Date: Oct 18, 2023
• Journal: Journal Of Marriage And Family
• Print ISSN: 0022-2445
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 65
• Pages: 681
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2003.00681.x
• Keywords: academic achievement, family policy, family structure, international comparison, single-parent family
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1728070
• Publisher URL: http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/51415/